10,000 visas for Pak cricket fans
Islamabad, February 20With the itinerary finalised, India will issue around 10,000 visas to Pakistani nationals to facilitate their travel for the much-awaited cricket series.

India beatable at home: Woolmer
Lahore, February 20
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer today said India are
beatable at home and his young team can take inspiration from Australia
and South Africa who won a series in India.

Sachin back after lay-off
Hyderabad:
Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is all set to come back after nearly a two-month lay-off due to his tennis elbow in the four-day Duleep Trophy tie between South Zone and West Zone, to be played at the new Hyderabad Cricket Association stadium here from February 22.

Jyoti Randhawa finishes second
Kuala Lumpur, February 20
Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand shot a two-under-par 70 today to retain his Malaysian Open title for a total of 21-under 267 and a three-shot victory over India’s Jyoti Randhawa.

Jyoti Randhawa chips the ball during the final round of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open at the Saujana Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. He finished second with a score of 18-under-par 270.
— Reuters
photo

Ludhiana, February 20
The curtain fell on the 70th annual sports festival of Kila Raipur, better known as Rural Olympics, today. The main attraction on the concluding day was a keen tussle among the veterans who vied for top honours in the track and field events.
Kesar Singh Punia (72) who had come from Toronto, Canada, to take part in the games, made his presence felt in various events. He finished ahead of the others in the 100 m sprint and won shot put with a throw of 8.10 metres.
Veteran athletes in action during the Kila Raipur Games on Sunday. —
Photo by Sayeed Ahmed

JCT drub Churchill Bros 3-0
Ludhiana, February 20
It was again a dismal story for the Churchill Brothers of Goa. The visitors crashed to a stunning 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Punjab’s premier soccer outfit JCT Mills of Phagwara in the 9th ONGC Football League match played at Guru Nanak Stadium here today.

Julius Irabor (right) of JCT Mills and Marcos Pereira of Churchill Brothers fight for the ball during a National Football League match in Ludhiana on Sunday. JCT won 3-0. —
Photo by Sayeed Ahmed

Sania gears up for Dubai Open
Kolkata, February 20
India’s top woman tennis player Sania Mirza today said she was looking forward to play the Dubai Open with a wild card and would start training tomorrow despite her ankle injury.

Prof Gursewak Singh’s
bhog ceremony held
Patiala, February 20
Thousands of persons attended the bhog ceremony of Prof Gursewak Singh, senior vice-president of the IHF and a former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, at Gurdwara Singh Sabha here today.

Top players for Asian Billiards Championship
New Delhi, February 20
Nineteen players from across Asia will vie for top honours in the Rs 3 lakh prize money Asian Billiards Championship, which was inaugurated in Pune today by Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi.

Islamabad, February 20
With the itinerary finalised, India will issue around 10,000 visas to Pakistani nationals to facilitate their travel for the much-awaited cricket series.
Indian High Commission here will open special windows besides organising visa camps in Karachi and Lahore to issue the travel documents to the cricket buffs.

“Now that the tour programme has been announced we plan to issue cricket visas from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi,” a senior Indian diplomat said here today.

He said the High Commission will be issuing “cricket visas”, which meant that only those who have tickets will be given visas, much on the similar lines of how Pakistan issued visas to Indian cricket fans during last year’s India cricket team visit.

The diplomat said currently the High Commission has no idea yet on how the BCCI and the PCB plan to sell tickets for Pak fans.

The BCCI plans to allot a specified number of tickets to be sold to the PCB in Pakistan and visas will be issued based on that. Tickets were also expected to be sold online as it was done during the Indian tour.

For the purpose of easy disbursement of visas, the Indian High Commission plans to open special windows at its building here by next weekend.

KARACHI: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar today expressed his frustration at skipping the Indian tour due to injury but dismissed claims that he pulled out of the high-profile series for fear of failure.

Shoaib, who cited a hamstring injury as the reason for not playing in the series, said he had missed a great opportunity to make a name for himself.

“That was such an opportunity. You do something and you make yourself a big name,” the maverick 29-year-old fast bowler said but added “If you don’t do it, you get a bad name.”

“I always look for the bigger tours and the bigger games to perform,” he told BBC Asian Service in an interview.

Less than 24 hours before withdrawing from the tour of India, Shoaib, who has missed 30 of Pakistan’s 66 Tests since making his debut in 1997, was fined $ 500 and reprimanded for indiscipline.

Shoaib was also not too sure about recovering in time for the six-match one-day series starting at Kochi from April 2.

“I’m there to serve my country as best as I can. But if I’m fully fit I can do a better job,” said Shoaib, the only bowler in history to have twice broken the 100-mile barrier.

“I had a good chat with my consultant and doctors and they asked me to rest because hamstring problems always take a bit longer than you think.”

Shoaib admitted that he had played half-fit on the recent tour of Australia where Pakistan were beaten in all three Tests.

“We always take chances, we always play with niggles and with injuries. I don’t know fast bowler who doesn’t. But what people don’t understand is a fast bowler can’t play every game because its too hard to do that.

“The amount of cricket we are playing nowadays is not easy at all.”

Shoaib said even without him, Pakistan had the capacity to beat India in the forthcoming series.

“They have great players and if they put it together we have a great chance to win. Our team is a strong unit after being beaten by Australia — we learnt a lot from that and that will help us.”
— PTI

Lahore, February 20
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer today said India are
beatable at home and his young team can take inspiration from Australia
and South Africa who won a series in India.
"It would be a
challenging tour to a country which is regarded as one of the second
best teams in the world but in recent years Australia, Pakistan and
South Africa have beaten them and that would be an inspiration,"
Woolmer told AFP as Pakistan prepare for their tour of India.

"A
home team always starts as a favourite but this Pakistan team is
maturing and is ready for the India challenge."

Australia won
their first series in India since 1965 last year while Hansie Cronje led
South Africa to a 1-0 win in their series in India in 2000.

Pakistan
under former captain Wasim Akram beat India in two of the three Test
matches in their last tour of India in 1999.

"They (India) are an
allround team now than in 1999 and 2000 and it would be a challenge to
confront the likes of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh," said
Woolmer, who played 19 Tests for England and coached South Africa
between 1994-1999.

Woolmer took over as coach in June 2004, replacing
Javed Miandad after Pakistan lost the home series against
India.

Pakistan arrive in India on February 28 to play three Tests and
six one-day games in their first tour of their neighbour since 1999. —
AFP

Hyderabad: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is all set to come back after nearly a two-month lay-off due to his tennis elbow in the four-day Duleep Trophy tie between South Zone and West Zone, to be played at the new Hyderabad Cricket Association stadium here from February 22.

After flying to Hyderabad, Sachin, who drove straight to Hotel Taj Krishna, joined his West Zone team-mates for nets.

South Zone’s star batsman VVS Laxman came back to the city after paying a visit to the temple towns of Tirupati and Srikalahasti.

Tendulkar has had rigorous net practice for the past few days at the MIG Club in Bandra. He last played against Bangladesh during India’s tour of that country in December. He was then advised rest by his doctors.
— UNI

Kuala Lumpur, February 20
Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand shot a two-under-par 70 today to retain his Malaysian Open title for a total of 21-under 267 and a three-shot victory over India’s Jyoti Randhawa.

This is the first time Thongchai, a 34-year-old former paratrooper, has successfully defended a title, his seventh career trophy. Tongchai now matches South Korean Kang Wook-soon’s most number of victories in the region.

Randhawa birdied the last hole en route to a 67 to finish runner-up with an 18-under 270, and Henrik Stenson of Sweden was third with a 17-under 271 in the $ 1.21 million championship.

Thongchai, Asia’s top-ranked player, joined Graham Marsh (1974-75) and Tomoo Ishii (1964-65) as players to win back-to-back Malaysian Opens since the tournament was first held 1962.

Randhawa, playing in the same group with Thongchai, was four under for the day through 13 but his momentum halted, no thanks to a 10-foot birdie attempt that lipped out.

Leading by three heading to the tricky 16th, Thongchai knocked his tee shot to 12 feet of the flag and rolled in the birdie putt which killed off his challengers’ hopes.

“Standing on the bogey putt on 11, I told myself I needed to make that as it was getting close. It was a great bogey. It then turned for me on 16 when I made birdie. I think I won it there,” said the Thai, who also earned a spot to play in the WGC-NEC Invitational with the success.

Thongchai’s career started as a 13- year-old playing with a makeshift three iron stuck on a bamboo stick. Today’s victory was worth $ 201,660 and hauled him back to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

But he survived a few anxious moments today.

His overnight six-shot lead dwindled to two strokes at one stage with the fast-charging Randhawa and Stenson nipping at his heels.

However the Thai, wearing his lucky red T-shirt, sealed it with a birdie on the par three 16th, which is proving to be his lucky hole as he had aced the same hole en route to his triumph 12 months ago.

After starting strongly with birdies on the fourth and sixth, Thongchai dropped a bogey on the ninth after finding the greenside trap.

Thongchai then hooked his drive into out of bounds on the 11th. He courageously birdied his second ball for a bogey five as Stenson narrowed the gap to two. But the Swede’s charge faltered on the par five 14th with a bogey after nearly finding water with his approach shot.

Randhawa paid tribute to the man who also beat him to last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit crown.

“Thongchai is a great player. He did lose it a bit with some bogeys and missing a few birdies. But he made a great recovery on 11 after hitting it to out of bounds,” he said.

Thailand’s Prom Meesawat shot a closing 73 to finish in tied sixth place on 277 with Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Irish star Padraig Harrington, playing in the final group, faded to a 74 and settled for tied eighth position with China’s Liang Wen-chong.
— AP

Ludhiana, February 20
The curtain fell on the 70th annual sports festival of Kila Raipur, better known as Rural Olympics, today. The main attraction on the concluding day was a keen tussle among the veterans who vied for top honours in the track and field events.

Kesar Singh Punia (72) who had come from Toronto, Canada, to take part in the games, made his presence felt in various events. He finished ahead of the others in the 100 m sprint and won shot put with a throw of 8.10 metres.

In the plus-80 years category, Gurdev Singh of Raikot won the sprint while in the 65-70 years category, Gurdev Singh of Chandigarh came out triumphant.

There was a long list of participants, which included veterans as well as handicapped, who performed feats of endurance. Gurnam Singh (70) of Ludhiana lifted a bicycle with his teeth. A polio affected youth, Nirmal Singh from Bhuttra (Moga), did a bench press with 70 kg weight.

The games were interrupted for some time after a bull fell into a 25 ft well. During a bullock cart race, a bull went out of control at the finishing line towards Mehmasingh village. The bull first hit a wall in the spectators’ stand and then slipped into a nearby well. Before falling into the well, it rammed into the spectators.

Bahadur Singh from Lohgarh sustained head injuries while Kamal Kishore, a migrant labourer from Mullanpur, was hit on the forehead and the knee. They were given first aid at the stadium before being taken to hospital. The bull was pulled out from the well with the help of a crane.

The cash awards of Rs 1 lakh each, announced by the Punjab Government a few days ago, were bagged by: (Kabaddi)- Panjab University, Chandigarh, who drubbed Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 46-29; (Wrestling)- Jagtar Singh of Khanna, who got the better of Sukhdeep Singh of Jalandhar; (Loading unloading of tractor trailor)- FCI Labour Union of Raikot who beat FCI Labour Union of Ahmedgarh. Two other cash prizes will be given to the winners in the bullock cart race and the jockey. Bela Singh of Langh and Jagtar Singh of Dhoorkot were tied in the event. The winner would be decided with the help of video replays, Mr Sukhbir Grewal, chief organiser, informed.

Ludhiana, February 20
It was again a dismal story for the Churchill Brothers of Goa. The visitors crashed to a stunning 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Punjab’s premier soccer outfit JCT Mills of Phagwara in the 9th ONGC Football League match played at Guru Nanak Stadium here today. The hosts struck thrice in the first session of the encounter which fetched them three points.

With this outright victory, JCT Mills have garnered 11 points from nine matches and improved their standing on points table while the visitors, after eight outings, are struggling at the 11th slot with just five points.

The visitors Churchill Brothers began on a rousing note. Exhibiting an attacking game, they forced the home team on the defensive. They looked comfortably in charge early on. The Goans burst down time and again during the initial minutes of the game but failed to get the desired results. Their forward Marcos Pereira missed scoring chances twice.

Similarly, JCT players too made some forays into the rival citadel midway through the first half but could not breach the defence. In the 26th minute, mid filders Harvinder Singh and Manjit Singh weaved a good move and managed to invade the danger zone. However, Manjit’s shot proved to be feeble which Goa custodian, Reagam Alemao managed to stop easily. Reagam again was in action a few seconds later when he saved a sizzler from Harvinder Singh.

In the 37th minute, JCT men stormed the striking area, where defender Harpreet Singh took possession of the ball and rolled the ball neatly into the net to open his side’s account. Four
minutes later, in a counter attack the hosts forced a throw-in at the top of the circle. Daljit Singh threw it to Julius Arabor Akpele who was well in position to send a header into the goal, much to the chagrin of the Goa’s goalkeeper (2-0).

With just 10 seconds to go for the breather, midfielder Sukhwinder Singh scored off a rebound (3-0) which proved fatal for the Goan outfit.

After changing ends, players of the both the teams made some frantic moves but missed the sting. It was only towards the fag end of game, Churchill players exhibited signs of fight back. However, by that time they were found short of time and ideas and lost the verdict 3-0.

The dejected manager of the Churchill Borthers, Alphonso Santiago said after the match that the home team played a fine game and they deserved to win. He, however, attributed the loss to the absence of the main players such as goalkeepeer Mark Masunu (red card), captain Usman Hussain and Subhash Sen Roy Chowdhary (two yellow cards), Bungo Singh and Yusuf Yakub (both injured).

The Churchill Brothers now travel to Goa where they take on Fransa Club of Goa on February 25 while the JCT Mills, in their next match to be played here on February 23 will clash with Tollygunge Agragami, Kolkata.

Kolkata, February 20
India’s top woman tennis player Sania Mirza today said she was looking forward to play the Dubai Open with a wild card and would start training tomorrow despite her ankle injury.

“I am looking forward to play the Dubai Open. I will try to deliver my best. I am yet to recover from the ankle injury but will start training tomorrow,” Sania, the first Indian woman to win a WTA Open at Hyderabad, told reporters here.

The 18-year-old tennis sensation, who has turned down a wild card for the Qatar Open beginning tomorrow, said she planned to leave for Dubai on February 25 and 26.

However, Sania’s father Imran Mirza said that she was still awaiting the wild card for the Dubai meet. “She expects to get it this week and will leave soon after.”

On a whirlwind visit to the metropolis, Sania said she was yet to decide on her next assignment after Dubai and would focus primarily on improving her fitness by undertaking six-eight hours of training daily.

“The next assignments will depend on the condition of my ankle. It is much better now but still there is some pain,” she said.

The Hyderabad girl, who shared dais with Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and soccer star Bhaichung Bhutia for a fund raising programme at Siliguri yesterday, had lunch at Sourav’s, the multi-cuisine restaurant owned by Ganguly.

Asked whether she had received any special tips from the cricketer, Sania said, “Sourav gave me some tips on how to grow patience.”
— PTI

Patiala, February 20
Thousands of persons attended the bhog ceremony of Prof Gursewak Singh, senior vice-president of the IHF and a former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, at Gurdwara Singh Sabha here today.

Speaking on the occasion, a spokesperson for the Punjab Government said the Government College of Physical Education would be renamed after Prof Gursewak Singh.

The district administration was represented by the DC, Mr Tejveer Singh, and the ADC, Mr Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon, while the Punjab Olympic Association was represented by its Secretary-General Raja K.S. Sidhu.

New Delhi, February 20
Nineteen players from across Asia will vie for top honours in the Rs 3 lakh prize money Asian Billiards Championship, which was inaugurated in Pune today by Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi.

In a press statement here today, former world champion Michael Ferreira said the Indian challenge would be spearheaded by defending champion Devendra Joshi, national champion Pankaj Advani, seven-time world champion Geet Sethi, Asian Games double gold medallist Ashok Shandilya, B. Bhaskar, Sourav Kothari and Rishab Thakkar.

Ferreira said among the overseas players were former world champion Praprut Chaithansakul of Thailand. Doordarshan will telecast the semifinals and the final on February 26 and 27.

BRIEFLY

Chennai Marathon
Chennai: Runners from the Army Sports Institute, Pune, hogged the limelight with Surendran, K Chitrakumar and Ratanlal Jain triumphing in the Rs 10 lakh prize money Chennai Marathon 2005, which was flagged off on the world famous Marina Beach on Sunday.
Surendran, clocking 2 hrs 27 mts, emerged the winner while Chitrakumar (2 hrs 45 mts) and Ratanlal Jain (2 hrs 47 mts) claiming the silver and bronze. Surendran carried home the winner’s purse of Rs 2,10,000, Chitrakumar got Rs 1,05,000 and Ratanlal Rs 55,000.
However, the competition in the women’s half marathon turned out to be stiff with Madhuri Gurrkui clocking a time of 1 hr 17 mts emerging the winner. Madhuri had won the silver medal at the recent Mumbai Marathon.
West Bengal’s Rina Das (1 hr 20 mts) and Tamil Nadu’s S Shanthi (1 hr 20 mts) placed second and third, respectively.
— UNI

Eves World Cup
Chennai: Mithali Raj of Railways will skipper the Indian 14-member team for the Women’s Cricket World Cup to be held in South Africa next month.

Hockey tourney
NEW DELHI: The revived edition of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey Tournament, to be held at the Shivaji Stadium here from February 21 to March 2, will carry a total cash prize of Rs 2 lakh.

The Maharaja Ranjit Singh Trust, formed in 1981, had been holding the Ranjit Singh Tournament at Amritsar till it was discontinued in the state in the mid-1980s.
Top teams like Punjab Police, Indian Airlines, Indian Oil Corporation, Punjab and Sind Bank, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Air India, Namdhari XI, Punjab National Bank and Sikh Regimental Centre, besides Water and Power Development
Authority of Pakistan and Sapura Hockey Club of Malaysia, will participate.
— OSR